My first car was a 1959 Hillman Minx 1500 and by the time my brother had driven it home from a back street dealer in Cardiff the engine was knackered. £15 bought a second hand engine and a couple of days work put it right. Not bad for a 16 year old, I had even saved up the £90 to buy it myself. It was built like a tank.
My dad had a Hillman Minx back in the 70's. Kept it in the garage and I'll never forget the wonderful combined smell of petrol, old leather, old stainless steel and oil.
In 1963 my father was using this wonderful Hillman Minx in Ceylon.Onthose this car was very luxuries and beautiful in the hill country of Ceylon.I never forget this British made car.And also another car was running in Ceylon ,that was a big car of HUMBER .Great Britain was manufactured high quality car on those days.Thank you England
In the late '60s my mate used to 'borrow' his dad's Hillman Minx and we'd go all over the place in it and it's unbelievable how far that car could go on an empty tank!!!! Great days.
Amazing isn't it? A family car from the 1960's can still transport a family of 5 and their luggage, do 70 mph on the motorway and get you all to the seaside for an ice cream. Times haven't moved on that much, have they? Btw Steph, you look fantastic ! Hope all is well with you and you have a fab 2023.
@@idriveaclassic All good with us. Just in process of buying another house - with a garage !!! Should take possession end march, beginning of April, then "all hands to the pump".
@@djtaylorutube increased safety explains the drop in driving standards. I remember my Dad in the 70's bemoaning Volvo drivers. His argument was that they would survive a big smash, so they all drove in a certain manner. Take airbags, crumple zones, ABS, etc , away and people might drive with a little more care.
@@6ettinold I don't disagree with you, my father always used to say that people would drive more carefully if they didn't have a seat belt but a spike in the steering wheel column. That said, it's a power struggle and when others around you drive like muppets, driving carefully yourself isn't going to save you from that muppet who has just come round a corner on your side of the road. Speeds are higher, roads are far more congested, standards are lower and this isn't going to change except to get worse.
Hi Steph. So glad you tested this model - my sister had one, two-tone grey and maroon. It was her first car and if she was in a good mood, she might sometimes give me a lift in it to school. I remember the comfortable ride and that it felt very solidly built. This was proved to me very effectively one day when I'd been 'lucky' enough to be offered a lift. We lived on the Great West Road (the A4) which had three lanes in each direction. As my sister turned right at the traffic lights, the Minx stalled and refused to restart. It was left to me to push it across three lanes of oncoming motorists in the rush hour. They were eager enough to honk their horns but less keen to get out and help a puny 12 year old! Despite that incident I still have happy memories of her Minx. By the way, the round Rootes symbol in the dash could be replaced by an optional Smiths clock - my sister's car had one. Keep bringing us your wonderful reviews 🙂
Fun fact: between 1959 and 1963 these were sold behind the Iron Curtain in then Czechoslovakia, all three IIIa, IIIb and of course the here shown IIIc and thanks to that you can still see these attending car shows here in the Czech Republic!
@@joedoe114 There were quite a few western cars sold during the late 50s and early 60s. You had the Ford Anglia 100E, Fiat 600/600D, Ford Consul Cortina, Simca Aronde, Renault 4 CV, Renault 8 and of course the Minx and few others. Altogether they made up almost 30% of cars sold into private hands at the time.
My parents bought one brand new in 1962; 4782 UP. Registered in Durham county. It was all white with bright red interior and ivory steering wheel, knobs etc. My dad was a coach builder and sprayed the bottom half in a dark blue; it gave the car a really classic look. It got rear ended when it was about 18 months old and was in the shop for three months, it was jigged to straighten it which was new for the day. Great car, fond place in my childhood.
That's lovely. Well done to Kevin for rescuing & looking after it & nice one to the previous owner for not letting the banger racers get their paws on it 👍 Cheers Steph 🍻
@@idriveaclassic £1000 would be to much for such a car....anyway! great work, i love classics, bikes too and all forms of motor sport. just wondering what classic to buy next🤔
My Dad had a Minx just like this one - it brought back many happy memories. The Loewy group also did design work for Studebaker - look at the front end of the Studebaker Hawk and see the similarities in the Minx/Audax range. Studebaker has a great museum to visit in South Bend, Indiana it is staffed by volunteers who used to work at the factory - their knowledge is immense - well worth a visit.
My late dad had one just like this, down to the colour, as well. This video brings back great memories. If he were alive, he would be over the moon to see this video. EDIT: Dad's was actually a 1959 model but painted like this - I had to check because the engine on this model sounded different plus there is no shaft attached to the steering wheel. Those are the visual differences I have seen so far between the two models.
Brilliant video! So informative and made so interesting! This was the first car my Dad bought, new in the very early 60s, and I remember it as a little girl aged about 5 or 6 - your video of all the features and the engine brought back distinct flashback memories of it and how much it was loved in taking us around locally and also up and down the country on holiday! Ours was blue too. Wonderful !!
Excellent presentation, as usual, of a piece of popular automotive history. And I like your philosophy: let the haters pass and enjoy the pleasure of a ride down the road in a peaceful little car!
That "bulge" above the steering column is, from memory, where the Column Shift rods were housed when the car was fitted with Column Shift. In Australia most had Column Shift, floor mounted gear levers were considered a bit "sporty!
And the shift on the column "allowed" an extra person to sit on the front bench. That may have been right on family cars, but would have been extremely uncomfortable for a Minx. An aunt had one of these and as best I can recall from so long ago was quite happy with it. She used it for shopping, going to tennis and so forth
My dad bought one here in the states at a Chrysler dealership. He liked it. The styling definitely looks like something from Raymond Loewy. Very much like a 54 Studebaker.. I'm almost positive my dad's had column change gear lever.
What a great vlog it just brings back so many memories. The Minx was my Mums favourite car that Dad drove. He used to change motors every two years but this one he kept and I learned to drive in. Thanks idriveaclassic.
The 2-tone (duotone) paintwork is nice; I seem to remember it starting with the Californian Minx in 1955; I went to the 1955 Earls Court motor show where that was launched. My dad had bought a 1954 Minx… totally reliable for many years. I had a series 3 and a series 5 later on… All very comfortable and reliable.
LOVE the matching frock Steph 😊 you're looking fabulous . The car is ok too ,my first boyfriend had one of these loved the bench seat in it . That's about all I do remember 🤭
my father had one of these in early 60s before i was born he loved them .. i was 54 last week and still have a lot of love for these old cars ... great videos girl love em thank you sweet heart..
Your videos off Hillman’s before this video had a big influence in my decision to buy my own Hillman! I bought a Pippin red and Birch gray Audax V from 64. And you are right that the Audax series are American inspired. Raymond Loewy is behind this design at Studebaker and the Audax series share alot of design features with said brand in the same years. I have owned mine since 2021 and drove it back 500 km without knowing if it could break down, 2 mountain passes and 3 ferrys later i came home without a single fault on this car. I ended up finding and buying a Hillman Hunter 1725ccm from 67 ( mk1 with round headlights) which i am restoring now. Big community in Norway for Rootes cars! So thank you for your brilliant channel! I try to check in to see what golden oldie you will be trying next!
Loved this, thank you! We had a leaky 2nd hand convertible Minx in about 1969. That view from the back seat is just like I remember. I was always puzzled by the meaning of that Rootes Group badge, it didn’t seem to relate to anything as a little boy. I remember that 60 mph was a real event ‘One mile a minute!’ was a thing back then. Cheers ❤👍
Enjoyed that. Love the "Nowadays they're all blobs". So very true and most of them a shade of dull as ditch water Grey with extra 5* ever wider safety blind spots.
so enjoyied the video, especially the ride through the countryside! It was this car owned by a neighbour, who was an engineer (in the real sence) that introduced me at 13 years old to motorcar servicing and repairs. I "assisted" in removal of the engine, ( a short engine) that was taken away to a local engineering company to be re-bored / head skimmed, then rebuilt and refitted, oh, what a thrill to go down the road at a gentle "running in" speed - such memories!
Friend of my father had one of these with green lower half and white top half. He was a paint sprayer by work so used to spray another coat of both colours over it annually(!) They had it for a lot of years and they were very happy with it. I remember the full width front seat and often sat in the middle of one in a Zephyr Zodiac.
I bought one of these in the 70s after leaving the Royal Navy cost me £40 past my driving test 1st time, it was a great runner and quiet comfortable with bags of room.
Nice review of a very rare however once popular car. My dad had one in the early 1970's, I can just remember it, lovely thing it was in white with a red lower half. Unfortunately due to considerable corrosion issues, it ended it's life in 1977. Before she went to the big motorway in the sky, I removed the number plate, 195FLO, that I still have it to this day.
Thanks for your great review Steph. It brought back many happy memories - I and my brother’s first car was 1964 Hillman Minx in pale blue (CPD 796 B) and we learned to drive on it. My dad took us out everywhere in it while we were learning and we had so much fun with it once we had passed our tests…… It had a floor shift like the example you were driving but had disc brakes at the front rather than drums so stopping was never a problem. Also, like your car there was no synchromesh on first gear so we quickly became experts at double de-clutching …..!🤣 She was an old car by the time we owned her but it was still a fast, reliable and comfortable car for those days and it’s quite apparent from your review that our old bus would still be able to keep up today if she were still around…. - Happy days!
Great video! Sometime in the late 60's early 70's My Dad bought a Hillman from an elderly neighbour lady late 50's I think? column shift, it was a left hand drive since I live in Canada obviously built for the import market. It was a sweet little car, like a small limousine, leather seats if I recall right. Fascinated me at the time with the Speedometer being on the passenger side, (Mom loved it since she could see how too fast Dad was driving . . .)
Funny thing is that column changes in the US were an advance when first introduced. The whole idea was to get the gear level OFF the floor so you could comfortably sit 3 abreast. Depending on the make, this was mostly a late 30's switch (though there were outliers several years earlier, usually coupled with some form of pre-selector or electric hand, etc). The US didn't really (re)adopt floor shift until the early 60's when 'buckets and console' became a thing. (Indeed the early 60s higher end cars with 'buckets' still had column - but of course automatic - shift.) 6 passenger adult capacity remained the norm (or at least goal) here well through the 80's, with the last gasp being a 2013 Chevy Impala (yes that recent). I know plenty of people who hate that everything is now individual seating and console, though of course tradtional gear levers too are going away - first time I was confronted with a 'wheel knob' selector = huh???
OMG I owned this model car back in the 70s in New Zealand. What a great car it was. I only sold it because I wanted a V8. This show brought back so many memories Thanks Steph for all your wonderful reviews. I love your show and having grown up in NZ where all the cars were English I have a love for old English cars. Keep up the good work I think you are wonderful xxx
I learnt to drive, and passed my driving test in a 1500cc 1959 3B with column change. That was in 1976 and the examiner admired the fact that i had learnt, and he said, mastered the column gear change, something he was surprised about in 1976.
Excellent! I had the 1959 series 111b with the aluminium radiator grille back in the 80's, not sure of the exact colour but it was two tone salmon/beige. I was a rockabilly so of course had to have a 50's car. Brilliant little car that cost me £350 and took me all over the country with no problems (apart from a faulty fuel gauge) and I would sometimes run out of petrol, apart from that minor niggle it was brilliant. Wish I still had it.
Great video steph. You are looking great, as always! I've always wanted an Audax Minx, ever since we discovered an abandoned one down by the Boise river, in the U.S.. We just didn't have many British cars in Idaho, and it was fascinating. Now, of course, I need one.
Great video, I learnt to drive in my Dads 1958 series 2 minx and used it for a short time after passing my test as Dad moved on to a series 3c in the same blue as Kevin’s car. Cheers Bob
Hi Steph just been watching the Minx video. Reminds me of the days my grandad had one. Went for miles in it with him. He had a column change so I wood sit in the middle at the front next to him and my dad the other side of me. The Minx as always been my favourite classic car. Great video.
Sadly I remember these cars were always a feature of the 80s banger races. A school friend had one in the late 80s as a run around and it seemed fine, never went in it thou. Thanks for another interesting vid :)
I remember being driven in one in the late 60s - my Dad's friend had one, and the same blue. I remember that Rootes badge in the centre of the dash display. Ive looked out for them, and you're right I havent seen a Hillman Minx for decades. Even being a 'petrolhead' as a young boy, I would be fascinated by other people's cars, the similarities and differences between models. In the Hillman, there was also a mpg calculator hanging from the dash these were credit-card sized plastic with little dials you set when you tanked up, and you could calculate the mileage of when you need to refuel. Many people had them as fuel gauges could be unreliable (available from motor accessories shops) where you could also buy car wax, sponges, and nodding dogs that would sit on the rear parcel shelf.
What a fun video. My uncle had a Hillman Minx that was probably a bit earlier than this one, I believe mid to late 1950's. I also recall that it was for the U. S, market with left-hand drive. His car was a semi-convertible with a fabric panel over the front seat that could be folded back.
My aunty and uncle had a Hillman Minx when I was little boy. It was a lovely car and great quality. It was white with a red roof and red interior. Looking great Steph hope 2023 brings all good things you you.
A good old solid car the Minx and it had a nice strong engine. My next door neighbour had a blue one, the headmaster up the road had a black one, my sisters boyfriend and my dad both had blue Gazelles. This one does look like a lovely honest example.
In the early 70's we had a Singer Gazelle that got written off and then we had one of these and I loved both cars as a small child, the Gazelle seemed really posh to me lol. This video brings back great memories, thanks Steph.
@@michaelcope856 It's a Rootes Group thing, the Hillman Hunter had Minx and Singer Vogue versions as well on the same arrows body, I've only ever seen one Arrows Minx though.
Thanks for another great video, Steph. You are so thorough and interesting. I absolutely agree that modern cars all look alike. Aerodynamic and efficient blobs. The old cars had some class. You certainly deserve more viewers.
You're right about modern cars, they have no character. This era and into the seventies, cars were far more indivdual and, to me anyway, interesting. Good video as always Steph. Thanks.
I agree with you I be more than happy to drive my classic everyday. But sadly you can't leave them anywhere without the fear of some scroat wanting to steal them.
@@michaeldraper60 Yeah. One of my best friends, now sadly departed, had a good solution. Two ruddy great hairy German shepherd dogs left in the car. He never even bothered to lock the doors.
My dad had a 1959 Sunbeam Rapier, white with a red stripe, then shortly after I was born, he bought a 1961 Hillman Estate in blue which was based on the Minx. As far as I can remember not having been inside one since I was six, the interior was identical to this. I definitely remember the off white wheel and gearstick knob. Also ours had the same Rootes badge blanking the space where the clock would be. As you say, these used to be everywhere in the 60s but there don't seem to be many left now. There is one that lives near me though. Same colour scheme as Kev's but an older model with a slightly different front grille. Thanks for bringing back some memories.
There was a team of all-women drivers who drove a Minx Series 3 for 20 days and 20 nights on Belgian pave, covering 15,500 miles, at an average speed of 41 mph. Tough cars.
Hiya Steph. I have memories of Hillman Minxes like that one. One of our late neighbours, the late Margaret Elliott had one that was not many months older, a former police officer who I knew had one as well, that was Constable John Slater who frequently did the rounds of primary schools in our area circa 1965-68. I still very much prefer the later Minx/Gazelle models from 1963-66 though, of which I know you have driven one of them (POO 912D) which is part of your back catalogue of reviews/road tests. Great stuff coming from someone who knows deffo how to present a motoring show properly (Top Gear production team please take note). Great vids, and keeeeeeep driving.
My uncle Pat had one of these. He followed it by having a Humber Sceptre Mk2 1600cc with manual box and overdrive , the earlier one with the twin headlights on top like the Singer Vogue (the later model with the 1725cc had twin headlights set in the radiator grill) . This Mk2 Sceptre had a really sporty dash despite its 1950s/ early 1960s styling. He later had another Sceptre Mk3 with the Hillman Hunter body and wooden dash , so stuck with Rootes cars for some time.
My father had several Hillman Minxes including the 1600 model. I passed my test in a similar British School of Motoring car and drove his car . He kept it for 5 years and replaced it with a 1500cc Arrow series Minx. It was very reliable and used no oil.
Dressed to compliment the car I see 😍. Great and well researched review as always. Nice to get these extra snippets about extras and costs etc. You look very at home in the Minx.
These cars were brilliant, and designed by the same designer of the Studebaker I started driving in 1977 and there was still loads I’m on the road with a reputation for just going and going and going, quite hard to Think not many left on the road i’ve got drove to school in one when I learn to drive I drove a few of them Beautiful cars. thank you
What a lovely car! Same year as me too! I can just remember my Mum having a Hillman Husky in the same colours which I presume was mechanically similar. I've never driven a Minx so it was good to go for a virtual ride in one. I have driven a Sunbeam Alpine of the same age, and it drove well, if a little heavy on the steering; and yes it is in good condition. I know, because I MOT tested it! It had overdrive too, which really makes a difference. Rootes Group cars seem to be quite rare now which is a pity. My late father loved his Hunters and was sad when they stopped making them. Great video Steph!
Love your presentations, knowledge and çamera work that gives a great overall look at the car. Bubbly genuine and ďown to earth. Thanks all the way from Australia.
Wow blast from the past ,my first car was a minx in Moroccan brown 1962 model and I first drove her "Minnie" in 1988 ,never let me down.🙏💯🤠🇬🇧 Great handling, decent breaks and easily quick enough to sit at 70mph on a motorway 🙏❤
Steph, an absolutely brilliant video again. My Dad had one like this but an "Easydrive" automatic version. Just a note: You're looking great!...Lots of love (Phil).. xxx
Love this car. I had the 111A Minx. In fact I passed my driving test in it many years ago ! I was 17 back then. I wish I still had it! I'm 75 now . .BTW the Rootes emblem was in the IIIA also. I took it out and put in a 'Econometer' Lol. You don't see them now. I had to drill and tap a thread in the inlet manifold and fitted a vacuum pipe. The idea was to drive the car with the need in the green. Amber and red, you need to take your foot off the gas. A bit gimmicky . . Enjoyed this video. Some nice memories!
The Hillman Minx was also sold here in Czechoslovakia during the '50s and '60s. I remember it. But people bought it only in Tuzex, and didn't pay in crowns there. Whoever bought it was very satisfied. The car was solid, well made and very reliable. Minxes continued to be driven long after other types of cars had reached their peak. At that time, Skoda had constant problems with quality. The Czech construction school had a strong tradition. - I also liked the Hillman Imp. If it were sold here, it would likely be a 'blockbuster.'"I remember seeing that on the Car S.O.S. series. Thanks to this lady for showing her Minx on the road 👌👍🙏
Love your video's Steph, love all classic cars but the Morris Minor is my first love! Had one but sadly no more. Hope one day i will have a nother one. God bless you.x.
I had a friend with one of these in the late 60s and I drove it often. It was thrashed to death by the owner and pretty much anyone else who drove it, but it just kept coming back for more! It had a column change ( better for having 3 front seat occupants) and went like stink! It didn't have a great deal of power but had one of the torquiest engines of the era and was a hoot to drive, especially fitted with Pirelli Cinturato radials as it was. My own car at the time, which I loved, was a Mk3 Ford Zodiac which was more refined than the Minx and a great "bird puller", but not half as much fun to drive!
That Rootes roundal on the dash panel fitted to most of their cars during this time period was for the optional clock. Back in the early 60s my Dad had the even rarer to find today estate 3C model in the same white and baby blue colour. Ours was a column shift model since that was still very common at the time and we had bought it second hand.
Good to see this. Memories and all that. Passed my Driving test in a BSM Hillman Minx. British School of Motoring Lessons previously were all in Farina Austin Cambridges. Driving test fee . One whole pound £. Those cars of the 50-60s were a simple delight to drive back then when new. Probably still are. One of my favourites being the more sporting versions like the Sunbeam Rapier. Complete with overdrive giving more gear ratios than four like my MGB .. a sporting version of the Cambridge running gear. Lovely gearbox action too. Rifle bolt stuff with a smooth overdrive switch on the gear lever and seamless lower revs when up on the still new Motorways where 100mph plus all perfectly legal. Six forward ratios is nothing new.
my dad had one! it was red and white. i liked it as a child.when i got older me and a mate used to go to see the banger races which was fun and there were minxs old jags austins lots of great classics getting wrecked! which we loved to see as children
Thanks a lot Steph, I, sure many wouldn’t be able to get past the crazy noise level inside and be heading straight towards an Anglia but it’s great to see something different on the road
My grandfather had one of these - in a two-tone brown colour scheme which I think was called chocolate and biscuit. The car matched his driving gloves!
I have always liked the looks of these cars, but then again I have been a long-time Studebaker admirer since my early teens. Very pleased to see you looking so well, Stef. Best wishes, Colin.
As you said and I’d agree rarely see them at car shows but you could of sold me this one, what a wonderful looking car. Well presented as always keeping the classic cars alive. P.S your looking really well too, and in great shape, keep at it 😊
I felt like I was really in the back seat lol The ride was amazing. Reminds me of the old days when I was a lid & went for drives in some of these old cars, I remember the Vauxhall quite vividly but vaguely remember this one, not sure where I seen one of these Hillmans, could have been the television I dont know but It just reminds me of many same type cars. I am from Canada & remember some of these cars from Britain, but there where only a few & where not common.
The Audax Minx series is one of my dream cars, but sadly pretty much hen's teeth in South Africa, so it's fantastic seeing you test drive another fab survivor.
My first car was a 1959 Hillman Minx 1500 and by the time my brother had driven it home from a back street dealer in Cardiff the engine was knackered. £15 bought a second hand engine and a couple of days work put it right. Not bad for a 16 year old, I had even saved up the £90 to buy it myself. It was built like a tank.
My Father had one of these in 1963 . He Said from memory it was a reliable but slow car with no room .
My dad had a Hillman Minx back in the 70's. Kept it in the garage and I'll never forget the wonderful combined smell of petrol, old leather, old stainless steel and oil.
In 1963 my father was using this wonderful Hillman Minx in Ceylon.Onthose this car was very luxuries and beautiful in the hill country of Ceylon.I never forget this British made car.And also another car was running in Ceylon ,that was a big car of HUMBER .Great Britain was manufactured high quality car on those days.Thank you England
In the late '60s my mate used to 'borrow' his dad's Hillman Minx and we'd go all over the place in it and it's unbelievable how far that car could go on an empty tank!!!! Great days.
These were also sold in Sweden, I remember them from my childhood, and seeing one again was a joy.
Amazing isn't it? A family car from the 1960's can still transport a family of 5 and their luggage, do 70 mph on the motorway and get you all to the seaside for an ice cream. Times haven't moved on that much, have they?
Btw Steph, you look fantastic ! Hope all is well with you and you have a fab 2023.
Aw thanks Dave. Hope you’re well too
@@idriveaclassic All good with us. Just in process of buying another house - with a garage !!!
Should take possession end march, beginning of April, then "all hands to the pump".
Only that if you crash the Hillman at 70mph, all the passengers are likely going to be dead. That's what has moved on a bit ;)
@@djtaylorutube increased safety explains the drop in driving standards. I remember my Dad in the 70's bemoaning Volvo drivers. His argument was that they would survive a big smash, so they all drove in a certain manner.
Take airbags, crumple zones, ABS, etc , away and people might drive with a little more care.
@@6ettinold I don't disagree with you, my father always used to say that people would drive more carefully if they didn't have a seat belt but a spike in the steering wheel column.
That said, it's a power struggle and when others around you drive like muppets, driving carefully yourself isn't going to save you from that muppet who has just come round a corner on your side of the road.
Speeds are higher, roads are far more congested, standards are lower and this isn't going to change except to get worse.
Hi Steph. So glad you tested this model - my sister had one, two-tone grey and maroon. It was her first car and if she was in a good mood, she might sometimes give me a lift in it to school. I remember the comfortable ride and that it felt very solidly built. This was proved to me very effectively one day when I'd been 'lucky' enough to be offered a lift. We lived on the Great West Road (the A4) which had three lanes in each direction. As my sister turned right at the traffic lights, the Minx stalled and refused to restart. It was left to me to push it across three lanes of oncoming motorists in the rush hour. They were eager enough to honk their horns but less keen to get out and help a puny 12 year old! Despite that incident I still have happy memories of her Minx. By the way, the round Rootes symbol in the dash could be replaced by an optional Smiths clock - my sister's car had one. Keep bringing us your wonderful reviews 🙂
Fun fact: between 1959 and 1963 these were sold behind the Iron Curtain in then Czechoslovakia, all three IIIa, IIIb and of course the here shown IIIc and thanks to that you can still see these attending car shows here in the Czech Republic!
Wow really! I love trivia like this.
The later Hunter was sold for many years in knocked down kits to Iran too.
Really? I guess the Skôdas weren't good enough for you guys? 😉
@@joedoe114 There were quite a few western cars sold during the late 50s and early 60s. You had the Ford Anglia 100E, Fiat 600/600D, Ford Consul Cortina, Simca Aronde, Renault 4 CV, Renault 8 and of course the Minx and few others.
Altogether they made up almost 30% of cars sold into private hands at the time.
The Minx was reliable and had awesome anti-roll geometry but you know, it's no Land Rover Hippo.
My parents bought one brand new in 1962; 4782 UP. Registered in Durham county. It was all white with bright red interior and ivory steering wheel, knobs etc. My dad was a coach builder and sprayed the bottom half in a dark blue; it gave the car a really classic look. It got rear ended when it was about 18 months old and was in the shop for three months, it was jigged to straighten it which was new for the day. Great car, fond place in my childhood.
Great to see some Rootes Group action on the channel! More please if possible!
That's lovely. Well done to Kevin for rescuing & looking after it & nice one to the previous owner for not letting the banger racers get their paws on it 👍
Cheers Steph 🍻
to expensive for banger racing......they'r not stupid!
@@retrofletchio we'll beg to differ shall we?
@@stepheng8779 they don't pay £5-7000 for a car. specially one that wouldn't last 2 laps
It wasn’t even half that when Kev purchased it…
@@idriveaclassic £1000 would be to much for such a car....anyway! great work, i love classics, bikes too and all forms of motor sport. just wondering what classic to buy next🤔
My Dad had a Minx just like this one - it brought back many happy memories. The Loewy group also did design work for Studebaker - look at the front end of the Studebaker Hawk and see the similarities in the Minx/Audax range. Studebaker has a great museum to visit in South Bend, Indiana it is staffed by volunteers who used to work at the factory - their knowledge is immense - well worth a visit.
My late dad had one just like this, down to the colour, as well. This video brings back great memories. If he were alive, he would be over the moon to see this video.
EDIT: Dad's was actually a 1959 model but painted like this - I had to check because the engine on this model sounded different plus there is no shaft attached to the steering wheel. Those are the visual differences I have seen so far between the two models.
Brilliant video! So informative and made so interesting! This was the first car my Dad bought, new in the very early 60s, and I remember it as a little girl aged about 5 or 6 - your video of all the features and the engine brought back distinct flashback memories of it and how much it was loved in taking us around locally and also up and down the country on holiday! Ours was blue too. Wonderful !!
Excellent presentation, as usual, of a piece of popular automotive history. And I like your philosophy: let the haters pass and enjoy the pleasure of a ride down the road in a peaceful little car!
That "bulge" above the steering column is, from memory, where the Column Shift rods were housed when the car was fitted with Column Shift. In Australia most had Column Shift, floor mounted gear levers were considered a bit "sporty!
And the shift on the column "allowed" an extra person to sit on the front bench. That may have been right on family cars, but would have been extremely uncomfortable for a Minx.
An aunt had one of these and as best I can recall from so long ago was quite happy with it. She used it for shopping, going to tennis and so forth
Yes, that is correct Michael. I've got a column change and a floor change car of this model. (Some were automatic too!)
Absolutely right about the vision in veteran cars. Today, windows seem to be losing area for reasons unclear.
My dad bought one here in the states at a Chrysler dealership. He liked it. The styling definitely looks like something from Raymond Loewy. Very much like a 54 Studebaker.. I'm almost positive my dad's had column change gear lever.
I see the resemblance between them
Yes indeed
What a great vlog it just brings back so many memories. The Minx was my Mums favourite car that Dad drove. He used to change motors every two years but this one he kept and I learned to drive in. Thanks idriveaclassic.
I love the Minx, I must have had about 5 of them over the years.
The 2-tone (duotone) paintwork is nice; I seem to remember it starting with the Californian Minx in 1955; I went to the 1955 Earls Court motor show where that was launched. My dad had bought a 1954 Minx… totally reliable for many years. I had a series 3 and a series 5 later on… All very comfortable and reliable.
LOVE the matching frock Steph 😊 you're looking fabulous . The car is ok too ,my first boyfriend had one of these loved the bench seat in it . That's about all I do remember 🤭
my father had one of these in early 60s before i was born he loved them .. i was 54 last week and still have a lot of love for these old cars ... great videos girl love em thank you sweet heart..
Your videos off Hillman’s before this video had a big influence in my decision to buy my own Hillman! I bought a Pippin red and Birch gray Audax V from 64. And you are right that the Audax series are American inspired. Raymond Loewy is behind this design at Studebaker and the Audax series share alot of design features with said brand in the same years. I have owned mine since 2021 and drove it back 500 km without knowing if it could break down, 2 mountain passes and 3 ferrys later i came home without a single fault on this car. I ended up finding and buying a Hillman Hunter 1725ccm from 67 ( mk1 with round headlights) which i am restoring now. Big community in Norway for Rootes cars!
So thank you for your brilliant channel! I try to check in to see what golden oldie you will be trying next!
Loved this, thank you! We had a leaky 2nd hand convertible Minx in about 1969. That view from the back seat is just like I remember. I was always puzzled by the meaning of that Rootes Group badge, it didn’t seem to relate to anything as a little boy. I remember that 60 mph was a real event ‘One mile a minute!’ was a thing back then. Cheers ❤👍
Rootes Group badge is the three spires of Coventry.😀
"Rootes" would have meant something had you been a boy growing up in Australia. You and your friends would have been sniggering....
Enjoyed that. Love the
"Nowadays they're all blobs".
So very true and most of them a shade of dull as ditch water Grey with extra 5* ever wider safety blind spots.
so enjoyied the video, especially the ride through the countryside! It was this car owned by a neighbour, who was an engineer (in the real sence) that introduced me at 13 years old to motorcar servicing and repairs. I "assisted" in removal of the engine, ( a short engine) that was taken away to a local engineering company to be re-bored / head skimmed, then rebuilt and refitted, oh, what a thrill to go down the road at a gentle "running in" speed - such memories!
Friend of my father had one of these with green lower half and white top half. He was a paint sprayer by work so used to spray another coat of both colours over it annually(!) They had it for a lot of years and they were very happy with it. I remember the full width front seat and often sat in the middle of one in a Zephyr Zodiac.
My uncle had one, towed a caravan with it! I can remember going out in it, four adults, two children and a dog.
I bought one of these in the 70s after leaving the Royal Navy cost me £40 past my driving test 1st time, it was a great runner and quiet comfortable with bags of room.
I went on my honeymoon in a hillman minx. I bought the car for 50 quid. It was also brilliant on petrol. thank you so much for the video. God bless.
Nice review of a very rare however once popular car. My dad had one in the early 1970's, I can just remember it, lovely thing it was in white with a red lower half. Unfortunately due to considerable corrosion issues, it ended it's life in 1977. Before she went to the big motorway in the sky, I removed the number plate, 195FLO, that I still have it to this day.
Thanks for your great review Steph. It brought back many happy memories - I and my brother’s first car was 1964 Hillman Minx in pale blue (CPD 796 B) and we learned to drive on it. My dad took us out everywhere in it while we were learning and we had so much fun with it once we had passed our tests……
It had a floor shift like the example you were driving but had disc brakes at the front rather than drums so stopping was never a problem. Also, like your car there was no synchromesh on first gear so we quickly became experts at double de-clutching …..!🤣
She was an old car by the time we owned her but it was still a fast, reliable and comfortable car for those days and it’s quite apparent from your review that our old bus would still be able to keep up today if she were still around…. - Happy days!
My aunt had one of these as late as 1973 and took me out for a spin. I was impressed with the fact that it had a 1600 engine.
Love your channel - was recommended to take a look by Kevin - it’s brilliant! Subscribed! ❤
Great video! Sometime in the late 60's early 70's My Dad bought a Hillman from an elderly neighbour lady late 50's I think? column shift, it was a left hand drive since I live in Canada obviously built for the import market. It was a sweet little car, like a small limousine, leather seats if I recall right. Fascinated me at the time with the Speedometer being on the passenger side, (Mom loved it since she could see how too fast Dad was driving . . .)
Funny thing is that column changes in the US were an advance when first introduced. The whole idea was to get the gear level OFF the floor so you could comfortably sit 3 abreast. Depending on the make, this was mostly a late 30's switch (though there were outliers several years earlier, usually coupled with some form of pre-selector or electric hand, etc). The US didn't really (re)adopt floor shift until the early 60's when 'buckets and console' became a thing. (Indeed the early 60s higher end cars with 'buckets' still had column - but of course automatic - shift.) 6 passenger adult capacity remained the norm (or at least goal) here well through the 80's, with the last gasp being a 2013 Chevy Impala (yes that recent). I know plenty of people who hate that everything is now individual seating and console, though of course tradtional gear levers too are going away - first time I was confronted with a 'wheel knob' selector = huh???
I love your vlogs on classic cars, not just for the cars but the amazing scenery when u drive them around
Thanks Steph great review and nice to see views across buckstones and marsden moor again
My dad had one, same model and year but in plain white with red seats. Loved it! Many happy memories of camping in Scotland.
OMG I owned this model car back in the 70s in New Zealand. What a great car it was. I only sold it because I wanted a V8. This show brought back so many memories Thanks Steph for all your wonderful reviews. I love your show and having grown up in NZ where all the cars were English I have a love for old English cars. Keep up the good work I think you are wonderful xxx
It’s brilliant sometimes when I hear from you lovely lot in NZ having similar me memories to us. we are all closer than we think ❤️
I learnt to drive, and passed my driving test in a 1500cc 1959 3B with column change. That was in 1976 and the examiner admired the fact that i had learnt, and he said, mastered the column gear change, something he was surprised about in 1976.
Excellent!
I had the 1959 series 111b with the aluminium radiator grille back in the 80's, not sure of the exact colour but it was two tone salmon/beige. I was a rockabilly so of course had to have a 50's car. Brilliant little car that cost me £350 and took me all over the country with no problems (apart from a faulty fuel gauge) and I would sometimes run out of petrol, apart from that minor niggle it was brilliant. Wish I still had it.
Steph- you are looking stunning! Well done and keep up the awesome work with the epic videos!
Great video steph. You are looking great, as always! I've always wanted an Audax Minx, ever since we discovered an abandoned one down by the Boise river, in the U.S.. We just didn't have many British cars in Idaho, and it was fascinating. Now, of course, I need one.
Great video, I learnt to drive in my Dads 1958 series 2 minx and used it for a short time after passing my test as Dad moved on to a series 3c in the same blue as Kevin’s car. Cheers Bob
Hi Steph just been watching the Minx video. Reminds me of the days my grandad had one. Went for miles in it with him. He had a column change so I wood sit in the middle at the front next to him and my dad the other side of me. The Minx as always been my favourite classic car. Great video.
Sadly I remember these cars were always a feature of the 80s banger races. A school friend had one in the late 80s as a run around and it seemed fine, never went in it thou. Thanks for another interesting vid :)
Great review Steph. My Dad owned one of these in the early sixties. Easily transported me and my three sisters on the back seat !
Saw some of the horrible comments - you are perfect the way you are Steph.
She is! A beautiful woman both inside and out!
What a lovely car. I love the colors! Thank You Steph for showing us that car gem. Love from rainy Bavaria 🥨🕍🍻
Thank you! It’s rainy in England too x
I remember being driven in one in the late 60s - my Dad's friend had one, and the same blue. I remember that Rootes badge in the centre of the dash display. Ive looked out for them, and you're right I havent seen a Hillman Minx for decades. Even being a 'petrolhead' as a young boy, I would be fascinated by other people's cars, the similarities and differences between models. In the Hillman, there was also a mpg calculator hanging from the dash these were credit-card sized plastic with little dials you set when you tanked up, and you could calculate the mileage of when you need to refuel. Many people had them as fuel gauges could be unreliable (available from motor accessories shops) where you could also buy car wax, sponges, and nodding dogs that would sit on the rear parcel shelf.
Loved these cars. Very helpful and factual video. Thank you Steph and BTW you look great
What a fun video. My uncle had a Hillman Minx that was probably a bit earlier than this one, I believe mid to late 1950's. I also recall that it was for the U. S, market with left-hand drive. His car was a semi-convertible with a fabric panel over the front seat that could be folded back.
Brilliant. Great to see and hear Kev as well. Steph, love your work. Cheers, John (Australia)
That's a beautiful road to drive on.
This model was my very first car, bought it when I was seventeen for £250 in 1968.... good memories... thanks for sharing
My aunty and uncle had a Hillman Minx when I was little boy. It was a lovely car and great quality. It was white with a red roof and red interior.
Looking great Steph hope 2023 brings all good things you you.
A good old solid car the Minx and it had a nice strong engine. My next door neighbour had a blue one, the headmaster up the road had a black one, my sisters boyfriend and my dad both had blue Gazelles. This one does look like a lovely honest example.
In the early 70's we had a Singer Gazelle that got written off and then we had one of these and I loved both cars as a small child, the Gazelle seemed really posh to me lol. This video brings back great memories, thanks Steph.
Oddly enough I was reminded of my mum's Singer Gazelle.
I still see the Gazelle as posh 😊
i had the Singer gazelle , with relciling seats, i had lots of happy memories of girlfriends with that LOL
@@michaelcope856 It's a Rootes Group thing, the Hillman Hunter had Minx and Singer Vogue versions as well on the same arrows body, I've only ever seen one Arrows Minx though.
This car suits you so well Steph ,
Thanks for another great video, Steph. You are so thorough and interesting. I absolutely agree that modern cars all look alike. Aerodynamic and efficient blobs. The old cars had some class. You certainly deserve more viewers.
I can agree with you on comfort, we had a Husky for a while which had similar seats. Great review Steph and thanks to Kevin once again.👍👍
You're right about modern cars, they have no character. This era and into the seventies, cars were far more indivdual and, to me anyway, interesting. Good video as always Steph. Thanks.
The golden age of motoring 😘
I agree with you I be more than happy to drive my classic everyday. But sadly you can't leave them anywhere without the fear of some scroat wanting to steal them.
@@michaeldraper60 Yeah. One of my best friends, now sadly departed, had a good solution. Two ruddy great hairy German shepherd dogs left in the car. He never even bothered to lock the doors.
My dad had a 1959 Sunbeam Rapier, white with a red stripe, then shortly after I was born, he bought a 1961 Hillman Estate in blue which was based on the Minx.
As far as I can remember not having been inside one since I was six, the interior was identical to this. I definitely remember the off white wheel and gearstick knob. Also ours had the same Rootes badge blanking the space where the clock would be.
As you say, these used to be everywhere in the 60s but there don't seem to be many left now. There is one that lives near me though. Same colour scheme as Kev's but an older model with a slightly different front grille.
Thanks for bringing back some memories.
There was a team of all-women drivers who drove a Minx Series 3 for 20 days and 20 nights on Belgian pave, covering 15,500 miles, at an average speed of 41 mph. Tough cars.
I think that was shown on Talking Pictures TV a while back?
@@SuperKanonier Indeed it was - it's been on at least twice. :-)
Hiya Steph. I have memories of Hillman Minxes like that one. One of our late neighbours, the late Margaret Elliott had one that was not many months older, a former police officer who I knew had one as well, that was Constable John Slater who frequently did the rounds of primary schools in our area circa 1965-68. I still very much prefer the later Minx/Gazelle models from 1963-66 though, of which I know you have driven one of them (POO 912D) which is part of your back catalogue of reviews/road tests. Great stuff coming from someone who knows deffo how to present a motoring show properly (Top Gear production team please take note). Great vids, and keeeeeeep driving.
Brilliant thanks Steph . Love the British fins & chrome era as much as the American cars of the era.
My uncle Pat had one of these. He followed it by having a Humber Sceptre Mk2 1600cc with manual box and overdrive , the earlier one with the twin headlights on top like the Singer Vogue (the later model with the 1725cc had twin headlights set in the radiator grill) . This Mk2 Sceptre had a really sporty dash despite its 1950s/ early 1960s styling. He later had another Sceptre Mk3 with the Hillman Hunter body and wooden dash , so stuck with Rootes cars for some time.
What a cracking back catalogue x
My father had several Hillman Minxes including the 1600 model. I passed my test in a similar British School of Motoring car and drove his car . He kept it for 5 years and replaced it with a 1500cc Arrow series Minx. It was very reliable and used no oil.
Dressed to compliment the car I see 😍. Great and well researched review as always. Nice to get these extra snippets about extras and costs etc. You look very at home in the Minx.
These cars were brilliant, and designed by the same designer of the Studebaker I started driving in 1977 and there was still loads I’m on the road with a reputation for just going and going and going, quite hard to Think not many left on the road i’ve got drove to school in one when I learn to drive I drove a few of them Beautiful cars. thank you
What a lovely car! Same year as me too! I can just remember my Mum having a Hillman Husky in the same colours which I presume was mechanically similar. I've never driven a Minx so it was good to go for a virtual ride in one. I have driven a Sunbeam Alpine of the same age, and it drove well, if a little heavy on the steering; and yes it is in good condition. I know, because I MOT tested it! It had overdrive too, which really makes a difference. Rootes Group cars seem to be quite rare now which is a pity. My late father loved his Hunters and was sad when they stopped making them. Great video Steph!
Great Video Steph, my Great Uncle had a 1966 Hillman Humber Sceptre. You're looking great too.
Love your presentations, knowledge and çamera work that gives a great overall look at the car. Bubbly genuine and ďown to earth. Thanks all the way from Australia.
Wow blast from the past ,my first car was a minx in Moroccan brown 1962 model and I first drove her "Minnie" in 1988 ,never let me down.🙏💯🤠🇬🇧 Great handling, decent breaks and easily quick enough to sit at 70mph on a motorway 🙏❤
Steph, an absolutely brilliant video again. My Dad had one like this but an "Easydrive" automatic version. Just a note: You're looking great!...Lots of love (Phil).. xxx
Thanks Phil you’re too kind xx
We had two of these in the 60's. My Dad put bright red seatbelts in the back! They were full harness things and we loved 'em!
Just came across your channel! Love classic cars! Thanks😊
Love this car. I had the 111A Minx. In fact I passed my driving test in it many years ago ! I was 17 back then. I wish I still had it! I'm 75 now . .BTW the Rootes emblem was in the IIIA also. I took it out and put in a 'Econometer' Lol. You don't see them now. I had to drill and tap a thread in the inlet manifold and fitted a vacuum pipe. The idea was to drive the car with the need in the green. Amber and red, you need to take your foot off the gas. A bit gimmicky . . Enjoyed this video. Some nice memories!
The Hillman Minx was also sold here in Czechoslovakia during the '50s and '60s. I remember it. But people bought it only in Tuzex, and didn't pay in crowns there. Whoever bought it was very satisfied. The car was solid, well made and very reliable. Minxes continued to be driven long after other types of cars had reached their peak. At that time, Skoda had constant problems with quality. The Czech construction school had a strong tradition. - I also liked the Hillman Imp. If it were sold here, it would likely be a 'blockbuster.'"I remember seeing that on the Car S.O.S. series. Thanks to this lady for showing her Minx on the road 👌👍🙏
Great memories of a time gone by when I was growing up and as you say all cars had something different about them. Thanks for the memories.
I miss everyday cars being exciting :(
Love your video's Steph, love all classic cars but the Morris Minor is my first love! Had one but sadly no more. Hope one day i will have a nother one. God bless you.x.
Your videos are such a joy. I felt like I was actually in the back! Lovely road too.
I had a friend with one of these in the late 60s and I drove it often. It was thrashed to death by the owner and pretty much anyone else who drove it, but it just kept coming back for more! It had a column change ( better for having 3 front seat occupants) and went like stink! It didn't have a great deal of power but had one of the torquiest engines of the era and was a hoot to drive, especially fitted with Pirelli Cinturato radials as it was. My own car at the time, which I loved, was a Mk3 Ford Zodiac which was more refined than the Minx and a great "bird puller", but not half as much fun to drive!
That Rootes roundal on the dash panel fitted to most of their cars during this time period was for the optional clock. Back in the early 60s my Dad had the even rarer to find today estate 3C model in the same white and baby blue colour. Ours was a column shift model since that was still very common at the time and we had bought it second hand.
Good to see this. Memories and all that.
Passed my Driving test in a BSM Hillman Minx. British School of Motoring Lessons previously were all in Farina Austin Cambridges. Driving test fee . One whole pound £.
Those cars of the 50-60s were a simple delight to drive back then when new. Probably still are. One of my favourites being the more sporting versions like the Sunbeam Rapier. Complete with overdrive giving more gear ratios than four like my MGB .. a sporting version of the Cambridge running gear. Lovely gearbox action too. Rifle bolt stuff with a smooth overdrive switch on the gear lever and seamless lower revs when up on the still new Motorways where 100mph plus all perfectly legal. Six forward ratios is nothing new.
Great review as always Steph,, another great looking classic and a another great looking car Kev has.
my dad had one! it was red and white. i liked it as a child.when i got older me and a mate used to go to see the banger races which was fun and there were minxs old jags austins lots of great classics getting wrecked! which we loved to see as children
Thanks a lot Steph, I, sure many wouldn’t be able to get past the crazy noise level inside and be heading straight towards an Anglia but it’s great to see something different on the road
My grandfather had one of these - in a two-tone brown colour scheme which I think was called chocolate and biscuit. The car matched his driving gloves!
No way! I love the coordination element too.
I have always liked the looks of these cars, but then again I have been a long-time Studebaker admirer since my early teens. Very pleased to see you looking so well, Stef. Best wishes, Colin.
Resemblance between them is paramount
I like that metal dashboard. Happy New Year Steph
As you said and I’d agree rarely see them at car shows but you could of sold me this one, what a wonderful looking car.
Well presented as always keeping the classic cars alive.
P.S your looking really well too, and in great shape, keep at it 😊
I felt like I was really in the back seat lol The ride was amazing. Reminds me of the old days when I was a lid & went for drives in some of these old cars, I remember the Vauxhall quite vividly but vaguely remember this one, not sure where I seen one of these Hillmans, could have been the television I dont know but It just reminds me of many same type cars. I am from Canada & remember some of these cars from Britain, but there where only a few & where not common.
The Audax Minx series is one of my dream cars, but sadly pretty much hen's teeth in South Africa, so it's fantastic seeing you test drive another fab survivor.
I have a minx 3c estate which was imported back into UK from South Africa approximately 20 years ago.
Thank you, Stephanie. I always loved the style as well as the apparent roominess of this model Minx.
Yeah. The roominess sold it for me
Great video. Love the black tights you're wearing 😮
Love the CVM badge on grill . Lovely video about a great car . Thanks Steph
I had one of these 62 Minx's a great car cool looking wagon